Catering the Bridal Shower Yourself – Ten Easy Tips to Stay Sane

Planning a bridal shower can be frustrating, especially if you are planning on catering the event yourself. When you are getting ready to host a shower, it is important to take some time for planning and relax. Bridal showers should be a fun time to socialize with friends and family and should not cause stress. Here are ten easy tips to keep you sane when you host and cater a bridal shower.

Number of guests: When you get ready to host a bridal shower, the guest list will determine just about everything about the bridal shower. Work with the bride, or if you are planning on a co-ed shower, talk with the couple. Find out ahead of time, before you begin planning, how many guests they want to invite. The number of guests will tell you where you can have the shower and how many you need to plan for. You might find it necessary to rent tables, chairs and serving platters or plates depending on the number of guests.

Time of day: Another tip for catering a bridal shower by yourself is to determine what time of the day the shower will be held. This can be a huge help when you are planning for food. For example, a brunch will be easier to plan than a shower that is held late in the evening when a dinner is expected. In addition, if you hold a shower in the late afternoon, you will not be expected to cater a large meal. You can plan for simple fare, such as fruit and finger sandwiches. Decide in advance what time of day the shower will be held and it will help keep you sane during the planning process.

Budget: Before sending out any invitations, know your budget. If you are on a limited budget, know what you can spend and stick to it. It will not be fun if you overspend and are left with a huge credit card bill after the shower. Let your bride know your budget and work together to plan a shower. It is possible to plan an elegant shower without spending a lot of money.

Plan ahead and ask the bride: Planning well in advance is the key in hosting a bridal shower. After you have talked with the bride and set a date, you can begin making preparations. If you plan on catering the event, never wait until the last minute. Delaying can cause a lot of stress. Instead, use an event planner or a notebook to record all the of the bridal shower details. Remember that a shower usually takes at least eight weeks to plan, so give yourself plenty of time to make necessary preparations. When you cater the event, know beforehand how many guests you will serve and if there are food allergies or other preferences, such as the bride being a vegetarian. Make detailed shopping lists and know what you will need to buy before going to the grocery store.

Make ahead and get help: Catering a bridal shower can be easier if you know what you are serving in advance and prepare dishes ahead of time. If you are serving casserole dishes, look into making them a couple of weeks before the party and then freezing the items. You can also do this for certain desserts and appetizers. The night before the party is a great time to cut fruits and vegetables, decorate a cake and make finger foods. Making food ahead of time will help cut down on the amount of stress on the day of the bridal shower. Also, consider getting help from others when you plan to cater a shower. It is perfectly acceptable to host a potluck style buffet where everyone brings their favorite dish. You can also enlist help from close friends or family members to help you cook and prepare dishes.

Theme: If you have a theme for the shower, such as brunch, co-ed barbeque or girl’s day at the spa, you can prepare dishes to fit the theme. This will make planning easier and everyone will know what to expect. Having a theme can also help you choose decorations and tableware with ease.

Keep it simple and relax: These are two tips you should remember when planning a bridal shower. Most guests will not remember the lavish dishes it took you all day to prepare. Instead, they will remember the time they spent visiting with the bride. Keep the menu simple and everyone will enjoy the shower and you will not become stressed. Last of all, remember to relax. Take a deep breath and have fun. Do not ruin the shower by obsessing over every last detail. Have a good time and your guests will, too.

Catering For Your Wedding

Dealing with catering service providers is part of most brides wedding planning strategy. A caterer normally provides food and beverages and they have an important role in your wedding. If you have experience with caterers, you are in luck. But if you have never hired a caterer before, don’t worry.

If the wedding reception venue offers this service, it is also possible that you don’t need to worry about hiring a third party caterer. Even if catering is not provided by the reception venue, they may be able to recommend some to you. If your reception site manager, recommends a caterer you should still do your homework. Just like any other vendor, a caterer should be able to provide you with several references. You should always contact the references.

You should ask about reliability, trustworthiness, quality, and related issues. Never assume that a caterer recommended by someone if surely the best possible solution for your event. One caterer may work great for one event, but be insufficient for others. A caterer may be experienced in smaller events, but not experienced with events with two hundred invited guests.

There are two different styles of catering:

Seated Dinner - Seated dinner setting will normally require more staff than a buffet. Serving the food requires more severs. With a seated dinner, you will need more tables and chairs because most of the guests will eat at the same time. A seated dinner offers less flexibility for your guests, because they usually have a couple of options to choose from. To simplify the process, menu options should be included with the wedding invitations so your guests can choose which selection they prefer. The pre-selection process enables you to work with your caterer on the final count.

Buffet – You may be able to get away with less chairs and tables with a buffet dinner. Buffet gives your guests more flexibility, and they don’t all have to eat at the same time. A buffet dinner also gives your guests more options to customize their food selection. The buffet requires fewer servers and less staff. Guests can pick and choose what they like. In addition to the obvious advantage of a more flexible dinner, your guest can go back for seconds. Because buffet dinners require minimal service staff, you may be able to save more with this option.

Catering And Weddings

Hiring a catering service provider is part of your wedding planning strategy. A caterer generally provides food and beverages and they have a significant role in your wedding. If you have experience with caterers, you are at an advantage. But if you have never taken a caterer into service before, don’t worry.

Often the wedding reception venue offers catering service, so you may not need to worry about hiring a caterer. Even if catering is not offered by the reception venue, they may be able to suggest one to you. Even if your reception site manager, recommends a catering service you should still do your homework. Just like any other wedding vendor, a caterer has to be able to provide you professional references. Part of your job is to always contact the references.

Because so much rides on the caterer, make sure the business is: experienced, reliable, trustworthy, and they provide a quality product and service. Don’t think that a caterer recommended by someone if the best possible solution for your wedding. One caterer may work great for one event, but be insufficient for others. A caterer may be experienced in smaller events, but not experienced with events with two hundred invited guests. One may be experienced with weddings and another with conventions.

There are two different styles of catering:
Seated Dinner - Seated dinner setting will usually require more servers than a buffet dinner. Serving the food requires more staff. With a seated dinner, you need more tables and chairs for most of the guests will eat at the same time. A seated dinner offers less flexibility for your guests, because they usually have a couple of options to choose from. To make it easier on you and your caterer, menu options ought to be included with the wedding invitations so your guests can choose which selection they prefer. The pre-selection process enables you to work with your caterer on the final count.

Buffet – With this option, you may be able to get away with less chairs and tables. Buffet gives your guests more options, and they don’t all have to eat at the same time. A buffet dinner gives your wedding reception guests more alternatives to customize their food selection. The buffet requires a smaller staff, and your guests can pick and choose what they like. In addition to the clear advantage of a more flexible buffet dinner, your hungrier guests can go back for seconds. Because buffet dinners require minimal service staff, you should be able to save money with this option.

Casual Wedding Dresses

Wedding is a very special affair and even in few years ago, people used to plan and prepare its dresses taking months together. Those were the days when wearing formal traditional wedding dresses was almost mandatory. But, with change in lifestyle and people's attitude towards social ethos, formal bridal dresses are gradually receding giving way to the next generation casual wedding dresses.

Shifting of marriage venues from churchyards to backyards has also contributed greatly in encouraging using casual wedding dresses. If you are planning to solemnize your much awaited marriage ceremony secretly in an isolated island, will you bother to go for the minute details of a formal nuptial? Collecting short informal dresses will certainly be your first preference then. Such informal dresses have their inherent advantages over their counterparts. Opportunity of creating one's own personalized wedding dresses also exists with the casual wedding attires. Seeing great potential, designers and manufacturers are also now days busy developing exotic and relaxing casual marriage dresses.

Depending upon the place of celebration, nature and design of your casual wedding dresses should be decided. Marriage at one's own backyard with complete family gathering requires sober and decent dresses. If it is a hot summer evening, you must not choose something that may help you sweat further. A nice designer strapless may fulfill your requirement. You may also go for sleeves, if you feel uncomfortable with the strapless exposures. A square or v-shaped neckline may be chosen to suit your taste. With casual bridal dresses, there exist actually unlimited options to choose ideal marriage attires. Few very common examples of informal marriage outfits are halter neckline, designer silhouettes, sleeves, waistlines, skirts with matching jackets, bridal trains, etc.

Casual wedding dresses provide an excellent opportunity to stay in touch with the latest fashion trends. Splendid embroidery works and fabrics generally form part of such informal nuptial attires. Design of these works may be ordered or can be best chosen to suit one's own personality and budget. If you are searching for a perfect beach wedding dress, you may go for white colored short skirt. In such cases, you must not forget to collect appropriate veils, sunglasses, hair bands, and footwear, etc. In other locations, your wedding accessories may differ, but they must not be ignored. Else, your informal wedding attire alone will not be able to prepare you exotically for your partner.

Casual wedding dresses are very common for the people who always want to establish uniqueness in their every sphere of activities, or in the case of second or third marriage ceremonies. Though white and ivory are the two prominent colors for most of the informal wedding dresses, but you have the full liberty to choose pink, yellow, green, red, etc. as favorite colors for your dream wedding attires. As these dresses have very limited after use, you most not go for costly deals. After a littler search at your local boutique shops, departmental stores, or in various online virtual stores, you will be able to locate fabulous casual bridal dresses within reasonable prices. If you have enough times on hand, you may search for discounted dresses. On the other hand, if you have little time, patience, creativity and intention, you yourself can design marvelous personalized casual bridal dresses.

Carribean Weddings – Elope To Paradise

Nowhere on Earth is as beautiful and breathtaking as the Carribean Islands. Without a doubt, it is a place you absolutely must see in your lifetime. So much so that if you have a wedding in your future, you should consider having a Carribean wedding and merging these two magnificent memories in to one. Carribean weddings are among the most exotic, memorable events anyone could hope for.

The sky is the limit with Carribean weddings. No matter what you want your special day to include, it is available on this island paradise. You can go with a traditional church wedding or a ceremony on the beach at sunset – whatever makes your heart skip a beat.

For a traditional ceremonial wedding, the best of both worlds is available. Imagine saying “I do” in a large cathedral church and being whisked away to your tropical getaway right next door! You can not beat that for convenience and excitement. You will also have the best photographs and videos to share your wedding memories for years to come.
Mexico Honeymoon Vacations
On the other hand, you can really embrace the culture of the islands and have a more festive wedding in the white sands of the beach. If you are adventurous at heart, you could top the ceremony off with rock climbing or skydiving. It is all available with Carribean weddings. Of course, there is a lot to be said for lying on the beach with an umbrella in your drink!

The other great thing about Carribean weddings is that the islands are so close you can almost touch them! You will not be on a plane for half a lifetime - just a few short hours and you are there, basking in the sun! Not that anyone wants a short trip to the Carribeans, but if you have to return quickly, this is the best option you have to really enjoy yourself that allows for a short trip if necessary.

However, if you have time to spare, there is plenty left to fill your days on the islands. For a really spectacular time, consider planning your Carribean wedding around a cruise. You can visit the many islands of the Carribean while you enjoy the luxury and pampering of a full-service cruise. Even more, you can combine a trip to the Carribeans with a quick stop in Mexico. Shopping and site seeing in Mexico would only add to the charm and exuberance of the trip.

Carefully Plan Your Wedding Checklist

The time leading up to your wedding is usually one of the most stressful times of your life. It is stressful in a good way but stressful nonetheless. Because there are so many items that have to be remembered in the midst of all the stress, it is a good idea to create a wedding checklist so as not to forget or overlook anything. And these days, couples have an especially great advantage in that there are many websites which provide a wedding checklist for you.

It all depends on your budget but there are even consultants who can help you plan your wedding and create your customized wedding checklist. But if you hire a wedding consultant, be prepared to pay a significant fee as these professionals do not come cheap. One source reported a wedding consultant making $1,900 to $2,850 USD per wedding. Part of that consultant’s job is to make a checklist so you might save some money by doing your own wedding checklist.

Wedding Checklist – The Really Important Items

Of course everyone will have an opinion as to what is important and what is not important on a wedding checklist but there are some major items that most agree are critical. These are items that are potential showstoppers if overlooked. One item that most do not think about but it is very critical is the wedding budget. If you and your spouse-to-be do not sit down and get a rough idea of what you can spend then you risk running out of money before everything has been ordered and arranged. If you, as a bride, are fortunate enough to have your parents pay the bill, then it would be most thoughtful of you to sit down with them and try to budget the expenses. Your parents will greatly appreciate you for it.

Once you have budget planning as your first item on your wedding checklist, then you can prioritize the other major items that you cannot forget. At the top of the list should be the bridal gown and the groom’s attire. Then next should be the attire for the members of the bridal party. And even before planning the attire of the wedding party should be just deciding who you want to be in your wedding party. Deciding the members of your wedding party is a topic itself because it can get very complicated. The attire portion of your checklist is really important because you are going to have to arrange things like fittings for rentals or if attire is being custom made.

Other really important items on your wedding checklist include the place of the wedding and reception. These need to be at the top of the list as well because you will probably have to reserve the venues in advance. Next on your list are things like food that will be served at the reception, who you want to perform the wedding ceremony, and what entertainment needs to be arranged for at the reception.

Conclusion: The Overlooked Items

Then there are the items that can be easily forgotten if left off of the wedding checklist. These are items such as the rings, the guest book, the invitations, the flowers, the honeymoon reservations, the attire for the honeymoon, the thank you cards, a photographer, keepsakes for the guests, and music for the reception. The list can just go on and on. One advantage couples have today that may not have been available to their parents is the internet where they can find many sample checklists that can serve as great starting points in building their own customized list. Making a wedding checklist is very important and it is one item you must not overlook.

Capture Your Extraordinary Day with Austin, Texas Wedding Photography

Your wedding day is the culmination of months of planning and a lifetime of dreams. You've selected everything from your wedding gown to your reception menu, and have attended to every last detail. When you stand before your betrothed with your friends and loved ones looking on, you want everything to be perfect. The memories you create on this extraordinary day will last a lifetime, and choosing a photographer who will capture your memory-making moments is one of the most important decisions you will make. Here is what you should expect when you hire an Austin, TX wedding photographer.

Finding the Right Photographer

Although feeling comfortable with the photographer you choose is important, you'll get the best results from someone who has training in both photography and fine arts. When a photographer has studied fine arts, his experience as an artist and a painter will bring depth and richness to your color photographs.

Today's photographers shouldn't only rely on film processing and printing photos. Choose a photographer who is skilled in Photoshop, a computer program that allows a photographer to manipulate digital images. In doing so, you will be assured that your wedding photos will be color corrected, properly cropped, and will be touched up to ensure that everyone looks his or her best.

The best Austin, Texas, wedding photography studios will provide you with a complimentary online gallery so family members and friends can view or order photos. More importantly, such studios will send two photographers to shoot your wedding, each with a different perspective. A fine arts photographer and an Austin, TX, wedding photojournalist will provide you with a mix of creative minds and talents that are sure to capture each important moment of your big day.

Engagement Portrait Sessions

The right wedding photographer will walk you through the necessary steps so you can have stunning engagement portraits that you can send to newspapers, print as postage stamps, and so forth. For example, he might tell you to bring several changes of clothes to achieve distinct photographic moods, or that you should be sure to get a manicure so that you won't be self-conscious while he's photographing your engagement ring.

Wedding Portrait Sessions

A great wedding photographer will give you valuable advice to ensure that your wedding portraits are beautiful and ready to display at your wedding reception. For example, he will probably advise you to have your haircut and colored a week before the portrait, to have a facial at least a week beforehand (to avoid breakouts), and to wear makeup to the session. He will remind you to bring flowers, shoes, jewelry, and everything else you might need at your portrait session. Further, he will work with you on scheduling both the time and location of your portrait session. A good Austin, TX wedding photographer will know the perfect locations for outdoor shoots, as well as the time of day to schedule the session in order to achieve the best results.

Trusting Your Photographer

A great wedding photographer has vast experience in working with brides and brides-to-be. Although you should clearly communicate your preferences, you should also try to be as flexible as possible. A photographer may use poses and settings that he knows from experience will work well. There is no harm in having him shoot the poses and settings that you have in mind, as well as those that he thinks will work. In the end, you will have countless choices that will capture your special day and provide you with memories for years to come.

Candy Bouquets: How To Make A Fun Table Decoration For Your Wedding

When I first started making bouquets I was always trying to find different things to use in place of flowers. One thing I found that is fun and different to use is candy.

Candy bouquets make wonderful gifts and they are a great talking point at weddings and receptions.

They are really easy to make, and the end result is always popular. This is probably because, not only are they colorful and fun, but they're edible as well!

You can make many different types of candy bouquets- In this article I will show you how to make a candy bouquet in a teracotta pot, which will look absolutely spectacular...

To make your own candy bouquet flower-pot, you will need:

- 1 Medium terracotta pot

- 1 Packet of lollipops or wrapped chocolates

- 1 Dried oasis brick

- 1 Piece of floristry wire

- 5 White roses purple centres

- 7 Purple roses

- Floristry wire and stem tape( if using chocolates)

STEP 1: Cut The Oasis

Using a piece of floristry wire to cut the oasis, so it will fit into the terracotta pot. Make sure it fits in the pot firmly as you will be pushing the lollipop sticks, flowers and leaves into it.

  STEP 2: Trim The Flowers The pot I am using is small so I will cut the flowers down. Cut just a little above half way down the stem. You do not need to wire or tape any of the flowers, just use the wire they are already on. Note: If you are using wrapped chocolates you will need to wire and tape them.

  STEP 3: Fan The Leaves Place your leaves around the edge of the teracotta pot. If you slightly overlap the leaves you will get a nice fan effect which will make the finished pot look much more realistic. Note: You may need to use one of the cut pieces of flower stem to put holes in the oasis for the leaves to go in.

  STEP 4: Insert The Roses Place one rose in the centre of the pot. Push the next rose in at an angle near the edge of the pot, and do the same with the next rose on the otherside of the pot. Keep doing this until all the flowers are in the pot.

  STEP 5: Insert Candy and Leaves Now all you need to do to finish the candy bouquet is to fill the bouquet in with the candy and leaves... Place a lollipop between each flower, and keep doing this until all the lollipops are used. If you have any more gaps fill them in with leaves and pearlies.

  Step 6: Add A Ribon
As a nice finishing touch to the candy bouquet flower pot, you can place a ribbon bow around the pot. You could also paint the pot before putting the flowers in. Even add a figure of eight bow at the front edge of the pot if you wish.

A candy bouquet flower-pot makes a lovely table decoration for any occasion. The good thing about this decoration is that you can just replace the lollipops once they get eaten.

Candle Wedding Favors – The Romantic Favor

Candle wedding favors are a wonderful gift to share with your guests in commemoration of your special. Evoking all that is romantic about marriage, candle wedding favors are the perfect way to rekindle in your guests all the feelings of joy and togetherness that was celebrated on your special day. Perhaps your candle wedding favors may even be responsible for creating a new romantic moment for your guests!

Candles have long been an important part of the wedding ceremony, and wedding favor candles are a special way to extend the togetherness they represent to your guests. Many ceremonies include the lighting of one candle from two, symbolizing the union between the newly wed couple. Candle wedding favors will remind your guests of this special moment long after the day itself has passed.

And as wedding favors, candles are the most romantic choice. Whether your guests are happily married or on the look out for love, what better way to invite the sense of romance that you and your spouse share into their lives than with candle wedding favors.

And these days, there is a huge variety of wedding favor candles available, from traditional votives to novelty candle wedding favors in almost as many shapes and sizes as you can imagine. Wedding favors candles are available in gorgeous red rose or heart shapes to accentuate the sense of romance, while the more traditional couple can choose classic pillar style candle wedding favors.

Whatever the theme or style of your wedding, there will certainly be a candle wedding favor to match. Capturing so much of the symbolism of the wedding ceremony, there is nothing that can compete with the special significance of candle wedding favors. Invite your guests to find for themselves the special romance that the newly weds enjoy by sharing with them beautiful candle wedding favors.

Candle wedding favors are a wonderful way to celebrate your wedding with your guests.

California Wine Country: A Perfect Wedding Venue

Are you currently engaged? If you are, congratulations! This is an exciting time in your life and you may want to get started with planning your wedding right away. One of the first decisions that you will have to make is deciding where to have your wedding. If you do not already have a set venue in mind, you are urged to examine California wine country. After a close examination, you may be surprised exactly just how much the area has to offer.

As nice as it is to hear that you should get married in California wine country, you may be curious as to why. For starters, you may live in New York State. If you live clear across the country, it can sometimes be inconvenient to travel and get married in California. With that said, it can also be fun, exciting, adventurous, and romantic. With long distance travel like this, your wedding in California, should you choose to get married there, would now become a destination wedding. Over the past few years, destination weddings have increased in popularity, especially in wine country.

Despite the fact that destination weddings are increasing in popularity and that many individuals choose California wine country as their destination, locals are also urged to examine wine country. As a local, you likely already know that there are over four hundred wineries in the state of California. Many are not only open to the general public, but many also have banquet rooms or other options for hosting wedding ceremonies and wedding receptions, as well as other private events.

Wineries and vineyards are known for their picture perfect looks and feels. There are many that are just breathtaking. When getting married, this is the type of backdrop and scenery that you will want to have. Most wineries and vineyards in California wine country have a beautiful, yet natural look and feel to them. This type of environment created is sought after by many brides and grooms. Most want to have a picture prefect wedding, but most also don’t want to have a “forced,” environment and setting. With wine country in California, this isn’t an issue.

When examining why wine country makes for the perfect wedding venue, it is also important to touch on other features. For starters, you have a number of different options when looking to plan a wedding reception and a wedding ceremony. Of course, you have the option of getting married in a church, but many choose to have their wedding and wedding reception in the same place. It is not uncommon for vineyards and wineries, who are set up to host wedding receptions, to have private and beautiful areas set aside for wedding ceremonies as well. In wine country, it should be easy for you to find a minister who would be willing to travel to your destination.

As for other aspects of planning a wedding, wine country has all that you need. In the wine country area of California, you will find a number of professional photographers, DJs, catering companies, and so forth. In fact, by carefully choosing which winery you choose to have your wedding reception at, you may be provided with a meal options for an affordable price. Some will actually have wedding packages for you to choose from. While you will find some variations, wine country wedding packages, should they exist, are likely to include food and wine.

Finally, overnight accommodations need to be examined. Since California wine country is a well known and popular vacation destination, you will find no shortage of overnight accommodations. Still, with that being said, it is important to plan ahead. During peak travel times, such as on Saturdays or from May to October, many hotels and vacation resorts quickly fill up with reservations. For private and romantic overnight accommodations, you will want to examine bed and breakfasts, as well as private vacation rentals, such a vacation homes and cottages.

As highlighted above, there are a number of reasons why you should at least consider wine country as a destination for your upcoming wedding. Whether you already live in the great state of California or if you are looking to plan a destination wedding, wine country has everything that you could ever want or need on your special day.